A Valentine’s Day With TMJ Disorder & How To Avoid It

Is your lovely Valentine’s Day plans with your spouse heading for a disaster because of your TMJ disorder?

Reach out to our team at Matthew J. Cavendish, DDS in Phoenix, AZ for relief from the painful symptoms of TMJ disorder.

What does a TMJ sufferer go through? Well, here’s a glimpse into what your Valentine’s Day with TMJ disorder might look like and how we can help you avoid it!

TMJ Pain: Like Cupid’s Arrow Went Straight to Your Head!

The TMJ is the joint the controls the alignment of your bite and the movement of your jaw. When it malfunctions, you could find yourself bearing the burden of all the misery and discomfort that follow.

The misalignment, known as TMJ disorder or TMD, brings painful symptoms that make you feel like Cupid’s arrow missed your heart and struck you right in the head!

You’ll likely experience:

• Painful Headaches and Migraines
• Stiffness In Your Jaw
• Earache Pain and Ringing
• Soreness and Muscle Tension In the Jaw, Neck, and Shoulders
• Tension from Teeth Grinding/Jaw Clenching

Hello, Valentine!… And TMD Pain.

As soon as you hear the buzz of the alarm, you feel the weight back on your shoulders.

Another sleepless night, tossing and turning because of pain and muscle tension in your jaw and neck.

As you pour your morning coffee, you tell yourself it’s going to have to be yogurt again for breakfast since eating has become too painful lately.

Already in a sour mood for lack of sleep and pain in your ear and jaw, you head to work.

You’re clutching the steering wheel and grinding your teeth all the while, forcing yourself to relax your muscles. But you can’t. The stress of traffic, work, and chronic pain all work in tandem to make your day worse.

The entire day at work is a constant fight to stay on task, to focus on your deadlines, to keep your eyes open during meetings, to find food in the break room that won’t make your pain worse if you try to eat it, and watching the clock to see if it’s time for you to take another round of pain relievers.

Your Valentine’s Day with TMJ Disorder

You sit down to a secluded, candlelit table in the corner at you and your wife’s favorite restaurant. It wasn’t an easy reservation to get, and you’re glad you called early enough to beat the onslaught of Valentine’s Day inquiries.

You used to enjoy their steak and seared vegetables, but with the pain in your jaw lately, chewing has become too uncomfortable.

So you opt for the soup instead. It won’t fill you up, but at least you won’t have to deal with painful chewing and constant jaw popping and clicking that go with it.

Dinner is fine, but your wife can tell you don’t feel much like talking. You’d love to reconnect with her, but the ringing in your ears and your pounding headache only allow you to muster a nod and a half-smile every now and then so she’ll think you’re engaged.

Your wife wants to share a dessert with you, since, she says, you both deserve it after how well you’ve both done on your New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier.

But you make some excuse about being too full when really, you’re fighting exhaustion and just want to get home.

Your Valentine’s Evening with TMJ Disorder

You’ve made it through dinner, have sent the babysitter home, and want to land the plane.

But the kids are excited to see you and your wife, not to mention they’re a little hyped-up from their own Valentine’s Day candy.

As much as you’d like to tuck them in and read them a book, you’re just too worn out from your sleepless night from the day before.

You’re short with them, and they can sense it.

So you head to the bedroom filled with guilt, and muscle tension. Instead of taking your spouse upon a nightcap to end your special evening together, you collapse into bed for what you know will be yet another restless, painful night.

Schedule TMJ Treatment Now!

People who’ve never dealt with TMJ disorder just can’t appreciate the effect it can have on your life.

But if you’ve struggled with the pain and discomfort for a while, then today’s blog could’ve been a page right out of the screenplay of your very own life.

Dr. Cavendish understands your pain and knows how to treat TMJ disorder so you don’t have to deal with today’s hypothetical disaster.

With a combination of treatment strategies, such as an occlusal splint and muscle relaxers, you can finally focus on your special someone without the distraction of TMJ pain.

Don’t ignore pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder. Call our Phoenix, AZ dental office today at 602-835-1304 or fill out our online form to schedule your next appointment.